M. de Soubise, much puzzled to know what she had said, asked me
the question.

"Why," I replied, "she said, that if I would follow your counsels,
you would pay me for my condescension."

"Ah! madame," he exclaimed, "she has completely murdered me.
I only charged her to offer my services to you, and throw myself
at your feet, as I do now."

"Rise, prince, I do not accuse you of such folly, and promise
not to mention it: it is necessary, however, that you should know
I have but one part to play here, that of pleasing the king. Any
other character will not suit me. Honor me with your friendship,
and accept mine in return. I cannot, must not, have any other union
with you."

Thus terminated this interview; it did not suit me to give the
prince de Soubise any hopes. He and all the Rohans would have
lived on it; they would have turned my confidence to their gain,
and as they were for the most part sharpers, or something akin to
it, my name would soon have been mixed up with some dirty transaction.
His family was a hydra of avarice, and would alone have swallowed
up all the wealth of France. If the king had taken one of the Rohan
family for his mistress, I believe that the finance department
would not have sufficed for one year's expenditure of this prodigal
family. I had no objection to the prince de Soubise coming to
supper with me, but I did not feel myself disposed to give him
any control over my mind. I should have been ill-guided by a
man who had no government of himself.